Joseph a



(No Model.) Y

Y J. A. SCARBORO.

Cotton Gin.

No; 239,064. Patented Marh 22,1881.

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' W' @www .PETERS, FHOT0 L|THOGRAPME, WASHINGTON, Dy C.

' 'Unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH A. SGARBORO, OFBULLOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA.

COTTON-GIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,064, dated March 22, 1881.

` Application nieu Decanter 23, ieso. (No model.)

i To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOSEPH A. ScARBoRo, of the county of Bullock and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Cotton-Gius; and I do hereby denlare the following to be a full, clear, and ex- :iuat description of the invention, such as will en able others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in cotton-gms; and it consists in the combination of a double toothed board with a cottonl.; ,ein upon each side, whereby a person standventioii.

at one end of the frame can feed both gins with his hands at the same time, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

- Figure l is avertioal cross-section of my in- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. A represents the frame, which is divided by means of the two central boards into three separate and distinct compartments, the two fluter ones, C, being for the cotton, and the `ntral one, D, for the cotton-seed. Upon the mp of this frame, in suitable boxes, are the two friction-rollers E, which consist of wooden shafts having iron rods passing entirely rough them, and which rollers are wrapped 'from end to end with leather straps which run spirally around them. The ends of the rollers are tapered or cut away, as shown, for the double purpose of preventing any of the cotinn from being carried into the boxing, where it would be liable to catch on fire, and to pret the end of the rollers coming in contact ith either one of the knives which are used. t one end of the frame, upon the journals of lese rollers, are placed suitable pulleys F, of which is placed farther away from the me than the other, so that both can be driven from the same point by using one straight belt and one crossed belt. These two friction-rollers are made to revolve in opposite directions, where it is desired to operate a double gin; but where it is desired to operate a single gin at a time, one of these rollers will be thrown out of gear. Upon the journals of these two rollers, at the other end of the frame, are placed large pulleys G, from whichbelts pass down over thersmall pulleys H, which are placed upon the'ends of the cranked shafts I, which extend from one end of the frame to the other through the seed-box. l

Upon the top of the frame, just over each one of the friction-rollers, are placed the breastpieces K, which have slots made through their ends, so that they can be adjusted laterally upon the top of the frame, and thus bring the friction-knives J nearer to or farther from the friction-rollers. Secured to the inner edges of these breast-pieces by suitable clips are the l knives J, between which and the spiral rollers the cotton is made to pass. These clips are bent outward at their centers so that only their ends come incontact with the breastpieces and the knives, and it is by means of the screws which pass through the center of the clips to bear against the knives that the knives are pressed against the rollers. Also secured to the inner edge of the breast-piece, at equidistant points, are the adjustable stops or blocks L, which bear against the top edges of the knives and prevent them from being raised too far upward, and thus causing too great a space between the lower edges of the knives and the rollers.

Secured to the cranks or cams of the shafts I are the connecting-rods M, which rods have their upper ends secured to the knives or cutters N. These knives extend the full length of the inside4 of the box, and are supported in position just below the friction knives by means of the arms P, which extend out from the rocking shafts Q. As the shafts I are made to revolve these knives are given a quick vertical movement for the purpose of loosening the seeds from the cotton before the cotton is drawn through between the knives and the roller. Also, placed inside of the top of the box are the two finger-boards It, which are provided with a series of teeth which extend outward toward the knives, and which are just far enough apart to allow the cotton-seed to drop through as fast as they are separated from the cotton. central chamber, which is provided with a series of cutters at its bottom, and which cutters conduct the seed to a central hole, where they are discharged into any desired receptacle.

In order to prevent the cotton from stiokiu g The seed drop down into the IOO to the rollers, brushes are placed upon the top edges of the partitions, or at any other suitable point, and which brush away the cotton which may adhere to the rollers.

The operation ot' myinvention is as follows: The cotton to be ginned is placed upon the tops of the two finger-boards, and where both gins are to be operated at once the cotton is fed equally toward both rollers. Where but a single gin is being operated the cotton is fed toward that one side only. Between the ends of the ngers, the lower edge of the frictionknives, and the upper edges of the verticallymoving knives, the spirally-wound rollers are exposed sucient to enable them to catch hold of the cotton and draw it in between them and the friction-knives. This cotton, containing the seed, while being pulled through by the rollers is being operated upon by the Vertically-moving knives for the purpose of loosening the seed, and while the seed are dropped down into the seed-box below the cotton is carried up into the outside boxes and dropped into any suitable receptacles prepared to receive it. As the cotton is drawn in by frictional contact only, it is evident that the fibers will be but little, it' any, broken, and that the value of the cotton will consequently be greatly increased. y

Having thus described 4my invention, I claim- The combination of a frame, A, divided by partitions into the chambers C D, and a double toothed board, R, placed upon the center of its top, with a cotton-ginning mechanism on both sides of the board, whereby a person standing at either end of the frame can feed both gins at the saine time, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 4o 

